Phoebe Philo, creative director of Céline, was named an OBE [Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] in a New Year's Honours list that was quiet for the fashion industry, but not for women — who received the lion's share of the honours for the first time in history.

Make-up artist Pat McGrath, famous for her work creating catwalk looks for major fashion houses — Dior in particular — is to be awarded an MBE for her services to the fashion and beauty industry, while an MBE [Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] also went to Natalie Gibson, textile designer and print tutor at Central Saint Martins.

Elsewhere in the arts, sculptor Anthony Gormley was given a knighthood and actress Penelope Keith — known for her role in Seventies sitcom The Good Life — became a Dame for her charity work. West Ham vice chair Karren Brady and actor Michael Crawford — the first actor to take the title role in The Phantom of the Opera — were named CBEs, while actress and presenter Linda Bellingham and singer Katherine Jenkins were named OBEs. Writer and actress Ruth Jones, who found fame with her self-penned sitcom Gavin and Stacey, was given an MBE.

However, neither David Beckham nor Andy Murray — who had been rumoured to be set to take home knighthoods — featured on the list.